job seekers Archives - Lone Star Staffing Solutions

02Sep

How Social Media Affects Your Career Growth

Are you currently seeking a new job or advance into a leadership position within the organization you work for now?

If either of the above scenarios is you or could be you in the future, it’s time to make sure your social media profiles match the persona you are presenting to future and current employers.

You’re thinking, “What I do on my personal time shouldn’t make a difference as long as I’m doing a great job at work, or my experience and skills meet all of the requirements .”

Yes, your time is yours, but it’s open to the public when you post on social media. Even if your profiles are private, someone in your network could share.

Did you know that many employers utilize social media to prescreen candidates in the process of hiring? And that your current employer is most likely checking even though you’re already a part of their team? They want to know their employees are not doing anything to jeopardize their online reputation or behaving in a manner that does not align with the company culture.

Misuse of social media could have severe repercussions and harm your chances for new opportunities or future advancement within the company you currently serve.

For example, if you go out with friends and decide that belly shots or getting captured on video in a nasty brawl are funny, then think twice.

Remember, even if you aren’t the one posting, it’s still out there.

They could misinterpret something someone posted about you or a controversial view you’re sharing.

When organizations scan your social media, it isn’t necessarily to find something negative about you but to get a snapshot of your personality. Culture has become even more of a factor when hiring, as employers realize the importance of a cohesive atmosphere where diverse people can come together to work toward a common goal. And, it helps if they respect and like each other as it makes for a more productive environment.

Not sure what is appropriate and what could pass for “normal” sharing? To follow are some suggestions on what NOT to post.

Revealing photos or sexual videos
Criminal behavior
Negative remarks about a former or current employer
Sharing confidential information about an employer (past or present)
Discriminatory remarks related to gender, religion, race, etc.
Photos or comments about drugs and drinking

Other telltale signs that it wouldn’t be a good fit:

If currently employed, you call in sick, and then they see images of you at Disney World.
Poor grammar on social media can indicate what they expect as far as your communication skills.
Too many posts. Why does that matter? If you have a history of constantly posting, then it suggests you would be spending a portion of your workday keeping up with social media versus managing your responsibilities.

Take some of the following steps to a more positive social media presence:

DON’T ERASE YOUR PROFILES

If they cannot find you, they’ll feel you’re hiding something as it’s rare that someone doesn’t exist on social media.

CLEAN UP YOUR EXISTING POSTS

If there’s something inappropriate, delete that post. If it’s on someone else’s channel and it’s a real negative, politely ask the person who posted it if they can either “untag” you or remove it altogether.
Include content that aligns with the persona you are representing in your career.
Add your skills and history, so they match with your resume. This advice is primarily for LinkedIn as that’s a dedicated professional channel.

It’s OK to be “social,” but be mindful of what you’re putting out there. Many co-workers connect on social media, so have fun, but before posting, ask yourself what employers would think about what you’re about to share.

And remember, you shouldn’t ease up on ensuring your online presence is positive once you are successfully employed.

17Mar

The Value of a Great Job Description

When ready to hire for a critical role in your company, do you clearly understand what you require when filling the position?

Before you begin, take a step back and determine what the role will entail, and start drafting one of the most important aspects – a clear job description.

Unfortunately, many hiring managers understand what they’re looking for but haven’t properly put it in writing to share with the person, or recruiting firm, who will assist with the job search.

This part of the process is essential. It could be the difference between employing the right person for the position or someone who, on the surface, looks like a proper fit but, without a clear description of their duties, does not possess the skills and mindset to be the right candidate.

Writing the job description is one of the most critical aspects of the hiring process. Poor hiring decisions can quickly impact your company’s long-term health, which is why it’s necessary to set your job search up for success from the beginning.

Elements of a Good Job Description

In addition to the daily duties, you want to include what you expect the right candidate to accomplish, so they have a proper understanding of that position’s goals. To be competitive, you will need to perform the research to have accurate job details and attract qualified candidates.

If the ability to write a good job description is not your forte, take advantage of a qualified staffing solutions firm’s services as they understand market trends and what makes sense to skilled candidates.

Your job description should include the following specifics to help weed out unqualified candidates:

Job Title
Description to include daily activities and responsibilities
Desired skillset
Required level of experience and education
The physical location of the position and if it’s remote, include details such as what that would look like (i.e., fully remote or a combination of physical/remote)
The expected amount of time needed to dedicate to the position. Is it full-time, part-time, or flexible as long as the work is complete and up to company standards?
The description of the overall company culture (i.e., more structured or more casual based on the type of work involved
The salary range and any benefits
Summary of your ideal candidate. This step further narrows down the applicants as it provides insight into your company.

Accuracy is Essential

If your job description is inaccurate or too vague, this could cost you time and money and leave you frustrated, especially when you need to fill the position swiftly.

On that note, expediting the process too quickly could negatively affect the process as the adage “Hire slow, fire fast” is a huge factor in getting it right the first time.

You will also be inundated with unqualified applicants if your details are not precise. The application process is already overwhelming as you need to comb through resumes and cover letters, which can be highly time-consuming.

If you’re like most, with a busy schedule, this may be the time you consider working with a staffing solutions firm that will remove all of the upfront legwork from your plate.

Help a Recruiter to Better Serve You

If you work with a staffing solutions firm, a poor job description can considerably slow down the process. A qualified firm will have the goal of making the hiring process much less stressful. Allow them to manage all of the upfront details.

They will provide you with only qualified applicants who meet the qualifications you require and who will complement your company’s culture.

As mentioned earlier, the right recruiting firm will help take your job description to the next level as they understand the terminology and what best attracts the right people for the position.

Valuable Tip to Help Lay the Road Map

Do you have someone in your company who fits the profile of your next desired hire? We encourage you to talk about this with your recruiter as he/she will be able to draw from that description and incorporate it into a good job description.

In summary, the goal is to lay the foundation of your search with a job description that will clearly define your next hire’s expectations. Simultaneously, it should provide enough information to attract the best person to add to your growing team and help your company succeed.